Liz comments in the Guardian as the Government delays plans to reform long term care of elderly and disabled people.

Pam Finlinson came to see me at one of my community drop-ins in Western Park.

Pam volunteers for Diabetes UK, the national charity which campaigns and cares for people with diabetes. She told me about a new campaign the charity is launching to raise awareness about the 7 million people in the UK who are at high risk of developing the condition.

This is a really important issue in Leicester.  More than 24,000 people in our city already have diabetes – that’s 10.3% of the population compared to the national average of 7.5%.

The good news is 60% of people who are at risk could be prevented from developing the condition, for example by eating a healthier diet and taking exercise. Prevention is obviously far better than cure, both for the individuals who might be risk and for taxpayers. It already costs the NHS around £10 billion a year to treat and care for people with diabetes.

I am writing to NHS Leicester to ask them to take action on this important issue and to make sure people who already have diabetes get the best possible care and support. If you want further information about eating a healthy diet or taking exercise to reduce your risk of diabetes please click here.

On March 6th, the Care and Support Alliance organised a mass lobby of Parliament. Over 1000 campaigners from charities and organisations that work with older and disabled people came from all over the country to call on the Government to end the care crisis.

I attended the lobby to show my support for this absolutely vital campaign. I met and spoke with many older and disabled people. They told me about the challenges they face every day trying to get the care and support they need, and the very real impact that cuts to local services are having on them and their families.

£1 billion has been cut from local council budgets for older people’s social care since the Conservative-led Government came to power. Fewer older people are getting the help they need and families face soaring care charges, which vary hugely across the country.

We must act now to reform services and support, and ensure a fair and sustainable funding system that delivers dignity, independence and peace of mind for older and disabled people and their families.

Labour is determined to play our part in achieving radical reforms to social care. We called for cross party talks on Andrew Dilnot’s proposals for funding social care and these are now underway. We are also pressing the Government for legislation on this crucial issue during this Parliament.

On Friday I had the honour of visiting the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre which provides a fantastic lunch club for elderly residents from across the city, including from my own constituency of Leicester West. I had a lovely meal including a delicious Mohan Thal.

The Neighbourhood Centre offers residents who wouldn’t normally be able to get out and about a chance to socialise as well as enjoy delicious food. They have a minibus which brings older people to the Centre who wouldn’t otherwise be able to make their own way there.

The lunch club is supported by a core of loyal, dedicated and talented volunteers, several of whom have been giving up their free time to help in the kitchens for nearly twenty years.

The lunch club at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre provides a brilliant service for local residents, which we should all cherish and support.